The souls humiliationThe soules humiliation

The second passage is this; as his own experience makes the Soul confess that there is no hope of good in himself; so the example of others doth confirm a broken hearted sinner in this; that all the creatures in the world, and all the duties under Heaven without Christ, cannot purchase salvation to the Soul; because the Soul now seeth, and considers in the Scriptures, that many thousands have had all these privileges, and done many duties, and yet come short of perfection. Many reprobates have had these privileges as well as Gods people; and the Soul thinks thus with it self: If beauty, or honours, or riches, might have purchased eternal life; then Pharaoh, Absalom, and Nebuchadnezzar, should have been accepted of God: therefore, What have I that many thousands have not had? and, What do I that reprobates have not done, and yet for ought I know, it never did them good? Isaac was circumcised, and so was Ishmael too; Abel offered Sacrifice, so did Cain too; and the stony ground received the Word with joy, and many there were that waited upon God in the use ⟨p. 27⟩of his Ordinances, as you may see in the Prophet Isaiah. Ahab fasted, and Judas repented,¹ and yet he is a devil now in hell this day:² And the Prophet David saith, If the Lord should mark what is done amiss, who could abide it? there was enough in Davids prayers to condemn him; and if all these did thus, and much more then I can do; Then why should I think to find more help in my prayers then they did: thus the Soul seeth that Gods people never had Justification from any privileges that they enjoyed, nor from any duties that they did, without relying on Christ.

The second passage is this; as his owne experience makes the Soule confesse that there is no hope of good in himselfe; so the example of others doth confirme a broken hearted sinner in this; that all the creatures in the world, and all the duties under Heaven without Christ, cannot purchase salvation to the Soule; because the Soule now seeth, and considers in the Scriptures, that many thousands have had all these priviledges, and done many duties, and yet come short of perfection. Many reprobates have had these priviledges as well as Gods people; and the Soule thinkes thus with it selfe: If beautie, or honours, or riches, might have purchased eternall life; then Pharaoh, Absolon, and Nebuchadnezzar, should have beene accepted of God: therefore, What have I that many thousands have not had? and, What doe I that reprobates have not done, and yet for ought I know, it never did them good? Isaac was circumcised, and so was Ishmael too; Abell offered Sacrifice, so did Cain too; and the stony ground received the Word with joy, and many there were that waited upon God in the use